7 Language Facts That Will Tingle Your Brain
Who doesn't like a jaw-dropping fact? Feeding your brain new information triggers the release of dopamine. That, in return, contributes to the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction. Having a fun fact up your sleeve can serve as a creative icebreaker, end an awkward pause, or spice up a presentation. Let's dive right into some mind-blowing facts to amaze you and impress your audience.
#1 Almost Half of the World's Languages Are Endangered
Out of the over 7,000 languages currently spoken worldwide, around 44% of languages are endangered. That translates to roughly 3,193 languages that could disappear. Examples of endangered languages include Ongota (Ethiopia), Ainu (Japan), Chamicuro (Peru), Yagan (Chile), and Njerep (Nigeria).
Why do some languages disappear? To understand that, we must first look at the difference between stable and endangered languages. Many people speak stable languages, learned as second languages, and use them as official languages for large organizations and educational institutions. On the other hand, endangered languages are spoken by a limited number of speakers and don't meet the criteria listed for stronger languages. That puts them at risk of disappearing over time. For example, a family speaking an endangered language may shift to an international language such as English to help their children access better education and employment opportunities. In other cases, languages spoken by small communities merge with a neighboring group.
UNESCO accounts for six degrees of language vulnerability: safe, vulnerable, definitely endangered, severely endangered, critically endangered, and extinct. Revitalization programs help raise awareness and save some of the languages at risk.
#2 Tonal Languages Use Both Sides of the Brain
Studies have revealed that speaking languages like English only engages the brain's left hemisphere, which is responsible for language learning and production. However, MRI tests have shown that speakers of Mandarin also have the right side of the brain active, which is responsible for music perception and pitch. Further research confirmed the findings by analyzing German and Arabic native speakers.
In non-tonal languages, language learning and speaking or writing rely on the left side of the brain. Young children under the age of 10-11 use both hemispheres to understand languages and communicate. After that age, only the left side of the brain is engaged.
What are the benefits of engaging both sides of the brain? Studies suggest that using both hemispheres improves your cognitive abilities and physical coordination. The practice also contributes to emotional regulation, positively impacting your emotional well-being.
#3 Aymara Speakers Go Back to the Future
For instance, South America's indigenous Aymara people see time differently from English speakers. Speakers of most Indo-European languages, including English, perceive the future in front of them and the past behind them. In contrast, Aymara speakers use the word for "nayra" ("eye," "front") to refer to the past, and "qhipa" ("back" or "behind") to mean "future." They will often gesture to their back when speaking about the future and to their front to reference past events. The logic is that the speakers cannot see the future, so it's behind them, while the past is in front, as it is already known. Linguists noticed similar time concepts in Malagasy, where "in front of" means "earlier than." Mandarin speakers perceive time almost the same way, using "front day" to mean the day before yesterday and "back day" for the day after tomorrow."
To sum it up, time perception in linguistics confirms that language influences how we understand the world around us. The Aymara case demonstrates that the words we use shape the concepts of time.
card-block
#4 The Devil Failed to Learn Basque
Basque, also known as Euskara, is the most isolated language in Europe. Spoken in the Basque Country includes three provinces in France and four in Spain. It counts roughly 800,000 speakers. Basque is what we call a language isolate. In other words, it doesn't belong to any of the living language families in Europe. It is a descendant of the ancient Aquitani language. According to UNESCO, Basque is a "vulnerable" language, and measures are being taken to preserve it.
According to a legend, the Devil failed to learn the Basque language by eavesdropping at a farmhouse. After seven years of unsuccessful attempts, the Devil gave up. This anecdote underlines the difficulty of the Basque language. Since it is an isolated language, it cannot be associated with any other living language. For that reason, speakers of other European languages cannot find any cognate and grammatical structures similar to their native tongue. The words are mainly formed with the help of prefixes and suffixes, making the words rather long. The complex verb conjugation system adds to the learning curve.
#5 Pirahã Language Has No Words for Numbers
Can you imagine your everyday life without using numbers? The Pirahã people from the Amazon rainforest in Brazil don't have to guess. Their language lacks precise numbers, a phenomenon called linguistic anumeracy. The lifestyle of hunters and gatherers doesn't require as much numerical precision as modern society in a large city. How do they get by? Words denoting approximate quantities seem to suffice for Pirahã speakers. Terms such as "some" and "more" replace all numbers. However, an MIT-led experiment in the area revealed that locals speaking Pirahã differentiate between three concepts: "one," "two," and "many." That is easier to grasp compared to the French "quatre-vingt" (four twenties, or 80)or the inversion Germans make in "einundzwanzig" (one-and-twenty, or 21).
#6 Tuyuca Language Demands Evidence
Tuyacan is a language spoken in parts of Colombia and Brazil. The language of the Tuyaca people is special due to its evidentiality. It is one of the 25% of the world's languages that show evidentiality through grammar. That means the speaker must mention how they know the information through one of the five evidential categories:
- Visual for personally witnessing an event.
- Nonvisual refers to information received through senses other than visual.
- Apparent to speak about information inferred from evidence.
- Second-hand for information obtained from others.
- Assumed for general knowledge.
Tuyuca speakers show evidentiality through the suffixes that they add to verbs. Other languages that account for grammatical evidentiality are Tariana (Northwest Amazonian), Quechua (Andean), Eastern Pomo (California, USA), Korean, Bulgarian, and more.
#7 Klingon Is Taught at MIT
Students at MIT have the chance to study Klingon as part of a linguistic course on invented languages. Klingon is used as an example of how language works. It's an excellent example of word formation, phonetics, and grammar. Students can better understand languages and their structure. The practical part involves learners comparing Klingon to natural and invented languages. On top of that, they create their language.
Other invented languages taught at MIT include Esperanto, Na'avi (Avatar), and Dothraki (Game of Thrones). Neuroscientists discovered that learning artificial languages activates the same neural networks as natural languages. That means they have similar cognitive benefits for our brains.
Learn Languages with FunEasyLearn
Turn language learning into a habit with an app that does the heavy lifting for you. The bite-sized lessons are designed to help learners make real progress through fun educational games.
Some of the perks include:
🧳 An Extensive Range of Language Courses
FunEasyLearn currently includes 34 language courses from 62 native languages. That makes 2074 unique language combinations, making it one of the widest varieties on the market. The extensive repository of courses gives you access to a wide range of languages you can learn from your mother tongue.
💹 Content Designed for Progress
Enjoy leveling up with logically structured courses. Explore 350 topics and subtopics for everyday situations. Practice the four basic language skills - reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Progress through the 10 proficiency levels aligned with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
🎮 Gamification
The language-learning application uses a gamified approach. Playing to learn is an effective method of understanding and memorizing information almost effortlessly. FunEasyLearn uses fun quizzes and challenges to help you memorize new words, phrases, and expressions.
🔝 High-Frequency Vocabulary
Based on the lexical approach to language learning, FunEasyLearn prioritizes the most frequently used words in a new language. Build a practical vocabulary for real-world scenarios from day one. Practice with audio recorded by native speakers in professional studios. Build a strong vocabulary to speak confidently at work, during travel, shopping, social interactions, and more.
⭐ Personalized Learning
Decide when, how much, and what you learn and review. Set a notification at a convenient time to make language learning a habit. Fine-tune the settings until they fit your schedule and learning goals.
With premium packages, you can access advanced customization options. For instance, you can create favorite vocabulary lists to reinforce the words, phrases, and expressions you need most. Learners also use Favorite Lists to prepare for an upcoming vacation or event. Access the smart review feature to leverage spaced repetition and commit the new vocabulary to your long-term memory. Another premium feature is the hands-free mode that unlocks learning on the go.
✅ Offline Access and Zero Ads
Learn anytime and anywhere with a convenient offline mode. Forget about annoying ads that constantly distract you. FunEasyLearn lets you focus on learning and vocabulary building. These features make the app great for language practice on your daily commute, during travel, or in areas with limited internet access. Maintain a learning streak to gain in-app achievements and reach your target level.
Millions of learners worldwide learn languages with FunEasyLearn. The language learning app is ideal for busy people seeking to fit mastering a new language into a busy schedule without sacrificing quality.
Are you ready to master a new language?
